Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
  • C05B—PHOSPHATIC FERTILISERS
  • C05B17/00—Other phosphatic fertilisers, e.g. soft rock phosphates, bone meal
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
  • A01C1/00—Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
  • A01C1/00—Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
  • A01C1/06—Coating or dressing seed
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
  • A01N25/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests
  • A01N25/02—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests containing liquids as carriers, diluents or solvents
  • A01N25/04—Dispersions, emulsions, suspoemulsions, suspension concentrates or gels
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
  • C05G—MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENT SUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVING A SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES, SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS; FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM
  • C05G5/00—Fertilisers characterised by their form
  • C05G5/30—Layered or coated, e.g. dust-preventing coatings

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for promoting plant growth and improving plant quality, and a growth-promoting agent and a quality-improving agent to be used in the method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for promoting plant growth and improving plant quality which includes applying at least one finely-pulverized water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient to a plant, and a growth-promoting and quality-improving agent to be used in the method which contain at least one finely-pulverized water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient.
• Patent Document 1 As a method for applying a micronutrient which is indispensable for plant growth, a method of foliar application of a water-soluble micronutrient has been proposed (Patent Document 1). A method of adding a specific water-soluble micronutrient to a liquid fertilizer has also been proposed (Patent Document 2). Furthermore, a method of sustaining release of a water-soluble micronutrient by applying a water-permeable coating to the water-soluble micronutrient has been proposed (Patent Document 3). There has been no attempt to directly apply the water-insoluble inorganic material to a plant as a micronutrient.
• a method of foliar application usually requires applying chemicals diluted to a prescribed concentration every week. This is a problem in terms of both work efficiency and durability of the effect. Furthermore, when a specific water-soluble micronutrient is mixed with a liquid fertilizer or the like, there is a problem that durability of the effect cannot be expected due to movement of the micronutrient together with water into an area where the plant cannot reach.
• the method of sustaining release of a water-soluble micronutrient by coating with a water permeable coating still has many problems to be solved before being used in practice due to difficulty in controlling the water content in the applied object because the amount of moisture in the soil in agricultural fields significantly changes according to the meteorological conditions and the like.
• a water-soluble fertilizer and a water-soluble inorganic micronutrient are easily absorbed from roots, stalks, leaves, and the like of plants and utilized. Therefore, it has been considered essential for fertilizers and micronutrients to dissolve in water.
• these fertilizers and micronutrients which are water-soluble have a drawback of runoff by rain and the like. Lack of micronutrients in the soil due to runoff of topsoil by rain or repeated cultivation causes crops to have various deficiency diseases, resulting in a decrease in harvest and quality. For this reason, it is necessary to supplement micronutrients by directly spraying a liquid fertilizer onto plants or to improve the soil.
• the present invention has been achieved in view of the above problems of the related art, and has an object of providing a method for applying a micronutrient exhibiting a sufficient effect by being applied only a small number of times.
• a method for promoting plant growth and improving plant quality comprising applying at least one finely-pulverized water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient to a plant.
• the water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient be at least one kind selected from the group consisting of tricalcium phosphate, manganese dioxide, calcium titanate, magnesium oxide, calcium silicate, and silicon dioxide, and have an average particle diameter of 10 ⁇ m or less.
• a flowable preparation containing a water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient with an average particle diameter of 5 ⁇ m or less is more preferable.
• a method of coating seeds with the finely-pulverized water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient or a method of adding the finely-pulverized water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient to a plant cultivating medium is used.
• plant cultivating medium includes soil of course, a medium used in cultivation in facilities such as hydroponic culture, artificial cultivation soil used in a seedbed, a nursery box, and the like.
• a plant growth-promoting and quality-improving agent comprising at least one finely-pulverized water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient.
• the water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient be at least one kind selected from the group consisting of tricalcium phosphate, manganese dioxide, calcium titanate, magnesium oxide, calcium silicate, and silicon dioxide, and have an average particle diameter of 10 ⁇ m or less.
• a flowable preparation containing a water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient with an average particle diameter of 5 ⁇ m or less is more preferable.
• the plant growth-promoting and quality-improving agent of the present invention may be a plant seed coating agent.
• the following effects are provided by treating a plant with the product of the present invention.
• Production and growth of a root are actively promoted by applying the product of the present invention to seeds and roots of seedling.
• Flowers such as roses stay in bloom for a long period of time while maintaining freshness by applying the product of the present invention to cut flowers, potted flowers, and the like.
• Flower roots can be actively grown and a greater number of flowers can be kept in bloom for a longer period of time by applying a diluted solution of the product of the present invention to potted flowers such as a cyclamen.
• the yield in rice or potato can be increased, and color, gloss, and taste of crops such as melon and tomato can be improved, and their sugar content can be increased by applying the product of the present invention to the base of the plant when planting.
• Replant failure caused by shortage of a micronutrient when the same crops have been grown for many years can be improved by treating the seeds or the nursery box with the product of the present invention or by applying the product of the present invention to the base of the plant
• the inventors of the present invention discovered that, if at least one water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient is pulverized and applied to a plant, healthy growth of the plant can be promoted for a long period of time and quality of the crops can be improved. As a result, the inventors successfully completed the present invention by providing a method for promoting quality of crops, and a healthy plant growth agent, a quality improving agent, or a plant growth regulator used in the method.
• the inventors of the present invention applied finely-pulverized water-insoluble inorganic micronutrients to the roots of a rice plant and observed the roots in detail by microscope. As a result, the inventors surprisingly found that the plant actively attracts the finely-pulverized particles around the roots and uses the water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient. Since this finding is quite different from the general knowledge that a water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient cannot be utilized by a plant, the inventors continued the detailed research using rice seeds, tomato seedlings, cucumber seedlings, sweet potato seedlings, and the like. As a result, it was confirmed that the water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient was definitely utilized by the plants. In addition, a treatment at a high concentration, which has generally been considered to be undesirable due to adverse effects on plant growth, was found to promote rooting and healthy growth of the plants without inducing phytotoxicity such as physiologic disorder.
• the finely-pulverized water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient (hereinafter referred to as "product of the present invention") have an average particle diameter of 10 ⁇ m or less and that a powder with such an average particle diameter can be directly applied to plants.
• product of the present invention it is more preferable to wet-pulverize the water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient with a surfactant into a flowable preparation with an average particle diameter of 5 ⁇ m or less before applying to plants.
• the product of the present invention is applied, as is, or after dilution, to a seed or a root of a plant, a nursery box, or a base of a plant when the seedling is planted. Since the product of the present invention is not run off by sprinkled water, leaked water, rainfall, and the like, an amount needed by the plant can be utilized for a long period when required by the plant to continue healthy growth until cropping. As a result, it was found that qualities such as color, gloss, fragrance, sugar content of crops can be improved. A method of increasing the yield of rice, sweet potatoes, and the like was thus found, leading to attainment of the subject.
• plant growth promotion refers not only to simple promotion of plant growth, but also to acceleration of rhizogenesis, life prolongation of cut flowers, and the like, of course, and further to inducing healthy and smooth growth inherently possessed by the plant
• improvement used in the present invention refers to improvement of quality, for example, an increase in yield of grains, leafy vegetables, and root vegetables, an increase in sugar content as well as improvement in fragrance and flavor of vegetables and fruits.
• improved refers to the effect of promoting qualities of flowering plants such as increase in vividness of flowers.
• the term "promoting plant growth and improving plant quality” used with the term “method” or “agent” refers to any one of a growth-promoting method or agent, a quality-improving method or agent, and a growth-promoting and quality-improving method or agent.
• water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient refers to tricalcium phosphate, manganese dioxide, calcium titanate, magnesium oxide, calcium silicate, silicon dioxide, iron oxide, cobalt oxide, boric oxide, molybdenum oxide, aluminum oxide, calcium oxide, zinc oxide, and the like. These may be an independent chemial or a mineral containing any one of these compounds. As examples of the mineral, rock phosphate, manganese dioxide mineral, periclase, wollastonite, corundum, hematite, zincite, and the like can be given.
• pulverized used in the present invention refers to a state of a substance of which the average particle diameter is reduced to 10 ⁇ m or less, and preferably 5 ⁇ m or less, by either wet pulverization or dry pulverization.
• An average particle diameter exceeding 10 ⁇ m is undesirable because the particles may not be sufficiently absorbed by the plant roots. The smaller the particle size, the better the effect.
• the lower limit of pulverization is usually around 1 ⁇ m.
• Wet pulverization is carried out in the presence of a surfactant which does not adversely affect plant growth and exhibits a sufficient wetting effect on the water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient.
• Dry pulverization is carried out using a jet mill. Powder may be applied to plants as is. However, from the viewpoint of preventing scattering, a flowable preparation made by wet pulverization in the presence of a suitable surfactant may be used.
• the content of the water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient in the flowable preparation is usually from 0.5 to 50% by mass, and preferably from 1 to 30% by mass and the content of the surfactant is from 0.5 to 15% by mass.
• nonionic surfactants such as a polyoxyalkylene alkyl aryl ether, polyoxyalkylene aryl aryl ether, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester, sorbitan alkyl ester, polyoxyalkylene sorbitan alkyl ester, a copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, and polyoxyethylene castor oil ether; a sulphate, a phosphate, or a salt of phosphate, of a polyoxyalkylene-type nonionic surfactant; anionic surfactants such as an alkylbenzenesulfonate, a higher alcohol sulphate, lignin sulfonate, naphthalenesulfonate or a salt of naphthalenesulfonate condensate, dialkylsulfosuccinate, soap, and a salt of sulphated olefin
• additives such as an antifreezing agent, a thickener, an antifungal agent, and a defoaming agent which are commonly used adjutants may be added to the flowable preparation.
• an antifreezing agent ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and derivatives thereof can be given.
• the thickener natural gums such as xanthan gum and gum arabic, synthetic polymers such as polyacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, and carboxymethylcellulose, and fine powders of inorganic mineral such as magnesium aluminosilicate, acid clay, bentonite, smectite, and white carbon can be given.
• antifungal agent generally used antifungal agents such as alkyl paraben, sorbitan acid and a salt thereof, benzoic acid and a salt thereof, dehydroacetic acid and a salt thereof, an isothiazole synthetic disinfectant can be given.
• defoaming agent generally used defoaming agents such as silicon-containing defoaming agents can be given.
• additives may be used in an amount sufficient for promoting plant growth taking into consideration the type of water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient used, the method of application, the type of target plants, and the like.
• a specific amount sufficient for promoting plant growth may be appropriately determined referring, for example, to the method of application and the amount used in the following experimental examples.
• the water-insoluble inorganic micronutrient may be applied, as is, or after dilution as required, by a generally used method of applying a vegetable nutrient to plants such as coating, dipping, drenching (soil drench), and spraying.
• 1 kg of seeds is coated with about 30 ml of the flowable preparation (product of the present invention) or a solution obtained by dilution of the product of the present invention (equivalent to several milligrams to several grams as a solid component).
• Emulsion of a resin such as a vinyl acetate resin or a styrene-acrylate resin may be added in order to form a coating film.
• Cuttings of sweet potatoes dipped in an aqueous solution of the product of the present invention with a solid component of 2 to 20 ppm produce roots and the growth is accelerated in one to three weeks. Cut flowers such as rose are expected to exhibit extended life, if dipped in a 1 to 10 ppm aqueous solution.
• the product of the present invention as is, or a five to ten-fold diluted solution thereof is applied to a seeding box of rice or to a base of a seedling by soil drenching when planting (0.1 to 10g per bunch as a solid component)
• the yield of rice or potato can be increased and quality of melon or tomato can be improved, where their color and gloss can be improved and sugar content can be increased,.
• plant includes various decorative plants as well as agricultural crops and fruit trees.
• the mixture was wet-pulverized at 2000 rpm for 20 minutes, followed by the addition of 21 ml of propylene glycol to obtain a 30% flowable preparation (product of the present invention).
• the average particle diameter of tricalcium phosphate in the preparation thus prepared was 4.5 ⁇ m.
• Acticide MBS a mixture of 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one
• the flowable tricalcium phosphate preparation obtained in Example 2 was added to 200 ml plastic cups, each containing 100 ml of water, to prepare solutions, each having a predetermined concentration. Seedlings grown to approximately the same degree were collected from a sweet potato-growing field and cut to a length of about 20 cm. Two to three cuttings were put into each of the above predetermined solutions, with the cut end of the vines being in contact with the bottom of the cup, wherein the sweet potatoes were hydroponically grown indoors at room temperature. On the fifth day, the plants were moved into fresh solutions in order to avoid the solutions go bad. After nine days, conditions of rhizogenesis were examined. The total root length was determined by adding up each length of all the roots growing from one vine.
• the average of the total root length of the two or three vines is shown in Table 3. Remarkable rhizogenesis acceleration effect of tricalcium phosphate was confirmed. New roots, which were not observed in untreated seedlings, were confirmed to grow from every main root treated with the product of the present inventions. About 20 to 40 side roots growing from one main root were observed. The results are shown in Table 3.
• Example 3 The rooted sweet potato seedlings obtained in Example 3 (except for the untreated seedlings) were planted in ridges covered with a black plastic sheet at about 40 cm intervals (July 10).
• the preparations obtained in Examples 2 and 3 were respectively diluted tenfold and 100 ml of each diluted solution was applied to the base of the planted seedlings by soil drenching. After normal fertilization control and cultivation for about 50 days (November 20), sweet potatoes were harvested and weighed to determine the yield.
• Table 4 It can be seen that application of the product of the present invention to the base of the seedlings only once at the time of planting resulted in a remarkable harvest increase. This indicates that the product of the present invention was utilized by the plants over a long period of time.
• Example 3 1 TABLE 4 Sweet potato harvest yield Concentration per plant (g) Yield per plant (g) Untreated 1 0 877 Untreated 2 0 825 Untreated 3 0 1008 Untreated 4 0 838 Untreated 5 0 857 Untreated 6 0 505 Preparation of Example 3 1 1972 Preparation of Example 3 1 2084 Preparation of Example 3 1 2046 Preparation of Example 3 1 2209 Preparation of Example 3 1 2244 Preparation of Example 2 2 2618 Preparation of Example 2 2 2597 Preparation of Example 2 2 2946 Preparation of Example 2 2 2767 Preparation of Example 2 2206
• melon seedlings (breed: Makuwa ) were planted in ridges covered with a black plastic sheet at about 60 cm intervals.
• the preparations obtained in Examples 2 and 3 were diluted tenfold, and 100 ml of each diluted solution was applied to the base of the planted seedlings by soil drenching.
• the sugar content of the melons harvested from the middle of July was measured using a syrup hydrometer ("Nogyoya REF-113"). It was found that application of the product of the present invention to the base of the plant only once at the time of planting resulted in a remarkable increase in the sugar content of the harvested melons. That is, the harvested melons had a sugar content as high as that of netted melons.
• Example 2 The preparation obtained in Example 2 was added to 200 ml plastic cups, each containing 100 ml of water, to prepare solutions, each having a predetermined concentration. New branches of Hydrangea were cut to a length of about 15 cm. Three cuttings were put into each of the above predetermined solutions, with the cut end of the stalks being in contact with the bottom of the cup, wherein the Hydrangea were hydroponically grown at room temperature. On the fifth day, the plants were moved into fresh solutions in order to avoid the solutions go bad. After 25 days, conditions of rhizogenesis were examined. The total root length was determined by adding up each length of all the roots growing from one cutting. The average of the total root length of the three cuttings is shown in Table 6. A rhizogenesis acceleration effect of tricalcium phosphate was confirmed.
• a predetermined amount of chemicals was weighed and embedded into soil together with roots of rice seedlings when the seedlings are planted in a paddy field in early May.
• the product of the present invention comprising tricalcium phosphate dry-pulverized to an average particle diameter of 6.13 ⁇ m was used as the test product.
• Nine bunches were planted per one test field. After that, usual wet-rice culture was carried out until harvesting in early October.
• the rice crop was dried and weighed to determine the yield. Good unhusked rice obtained by wind selection was used as the test sample.
• the average yield of nine bunches is shown in Table 7. As compared with common water-soluble fertilizers, the product of the present inventions showed more increase in the yield.
• Potatoes from varieties of Danshaku and Kita Akari were cut into halves so that each half could have almost the same number of buds. Cut potatoes were dipped in a 10% solution of the preparation obtained in Example 6 for one minute and dried for three days at room temperature. The treated potatoes were planted in a field with two rows of ridges, each having a width of 100 cm and being covered with a black plastic sheet, at 40 cm intervals and a depth of about 5 cm (March 21). After 100 days, new potatoes were dug out plant by plant to examine the yield. The results are shown in Tables 8 and 9.
• Seed potatoes of Kita Akari were planted in a 60 cm-wide ridge at intervals of 30 cm.
• 100 ml of the preparation of Example 7 diluted to a predetermined concentration was applied by soil drenching (March 30).
• new potatoes were dug out plant by plant to examine the yield.
• the harvested potatoes were classified into seven groups according to the size to determine the rate of quality crops which are commercially valuable.
• the average starch value of the potatoes in each treatment condition was measured. The results are shown in Table 10.
• Example 7 Watermelon (breed: Matsuribayashi 777 ) seedling pots were dipped in the preparation of Example 7 diluted to 20-fold when the seedlings were transplanted. The seedlings were planted in a 180 cm-wide ridge at intervals of 90 cm. Alternatively, the preparation of Example 7 diluted to a predetermined fold was applied to the base of the plant in an amount of 100 ml per plant (May 2) without being previously treated by soil drenching. After normal cultivation for 79 days, during which two watermelons per plant were grown, the watermelons were harvested to measure the mass and the sugar content. The results are shown in Table 11.
• Sweet corn (breed: Miwakuno Corn ) was seeded in a 120 cm-wide ridge at intervals of 40 cm (March 20). The ridge was covered with a transparent plastic sheet to cultivate the sweet corn in a normal way. After about seven weeks, the plastic sheet was torn to draw out the grown plant.
• the preparation obtained in Example 7 were diluted to a predetermined fold and applied to the sweet corn in an amount of 100 ml/plant by soil drenching (April 27). Ripe sweet corn was harvested 56 days after the application (June 22) to measure the mass, total length, unripe rate, and sugar content. Average value of three measurements was determined. The results are shown in Table 12.
• Example 7 A 500 ml solution of the preparation of Example 7 diluted tenfold was applied uniformly by drenching the surface of soil of a nursery box immediately before rice seedlings grown in the nursery box were transplanted (May 10). The rice seedlings were planted with a rice planter. After 112 days of normal cultivation (August 30), rice was harvested and dried to measure the yield.
• the product of the present invention can constantly supply an amount of micronutrient necessary for a plant to grow by being applied once onto seeds or a base of a plant therefore the product of the present invention may be industrially used as follows.
• laborsaving in agriculture since the product of the present invention needs to be applied only once to the seeds, to the nursery box, or when planting seedlings, weekly spraying of fertilizers or additional fertilization is unnecessary, leading to a reduction of labor and expense.
• healthy cultivation of crops micronutrient deficiency and the like can be improved, leading to healthy cultivation.
• quality improvement or yield increase the color, gloss, and sugar content of crops may be improved and yield may be increased. Cut flowers last longer, and roots of potted plants become active to have flowers grow healthy and stay in bloom longer.
• a system of stably growing and supplying high quality farm products may be built by applying the product of the present invention. Branding of these farm products may promote local industries and increase consumer choices. Also, highly-functional food crops may be cultivated.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
• Soil Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
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• Dentistry (AREA)
• Agronomy & Crop Science (AREA)
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• Fertilizers (AREA)
• Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
• Pretreatment Of Seeds And Plants (AREA)

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• 2006
  • 2006-11-27 CN CN2006800511212A patent/CN101360697B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-11-27 EP EP06833373A patent/EP1975141A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-11-27 JP JP2007554822A patent/JPWO2007083445A1/ja active Pending
  • 2006-11-27 BR BRPI0621043-0A patent/BRPI0621043A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-11-27 RU RU2008133618/15A patent/RU2008133618A/ru unknown
  • 2006-11-27 WO PCT/JP2006/323569 patent/WO2007083445A1/ja active Application Filing
  • 2006-11-29 TW TW095144204A patent/TW200732273A/zh unknown
• 2008
  • 2008-07-09 US US12/169,669 patent/US20080271368A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-08-14 KR KR1020087020046A patent/KR101343245B1/ko active IP Right Grant

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